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High Density Event-related Potential Data Acquisition in Cognitive Neuroscience
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Cognitive, neural and endocrine functioning during late pregnancy: An Event-Related Potentials study
1Department of Behavioral Sciences, The Center for Psychobiological Research, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Israel.
Hormones and Behavior
|August 24, 2019
Summary
Late pregnancy enhances response inhibition and executive function, showing less impulsive behavior. Pregnant women exhibited improved performance on tasks requiring impulse control and response inhibition compared to non-pregnant controls.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Late pregnancy involves significant physiological and cognitive changes.
- Executive functions, including response inhibition, are crucial for daily functioning.
- Previous research has not extensively explored neural and endocrine correlates of response inhibition in pregnant women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cognitive, neural, and endocrine function in late pregnancy.
- To examine response inhibition and executive function using behavioral, electrophysiological, and endocrine measures.
- To compare pregnant women with non-pregnant controls on these functions.
Main Methods:
- Cognitive function assessed via digit-symbol coding, arithmetic tests, and a visual stop-signal task.
- Brain activity measured using scalp-recorded Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) during the stop-signal task.
- Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity assessed through salivary cortisol levels.
Main Results:
- Pregnant women showed lower performance on the digit-symbol coding test but similar error rates on the stop-signal task.
- Pregnant women exhibited longer response times to Go trials and significantly better performance in the Stop condition.
- Electrophysiologically, pregnant women showed altered ERP amplitudes (P2, P1, N2, P3) and reduced cortisol reactivity compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Women in late pregnancy demonstrate enhanced response inhibition and more cautious, controlled behavioral patterns.
- Pregnancy-associated changes may modulate executive functions, leading to improved impulse control.
- Findings suggest a complex interplay between cognitive, neural, and endocrine systems during late pregnancy.
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